Annex 1
Letter from Karen Jennings, UNISON, to
Lord Warner, Minister of State, Department of Health
I am writing to you as the Minister with responsibility
for Workforce Development to inform you of the serious concerns
that have been expressed to us by staff working for Partnership
Health Group Limited (PHG) who are running the Independent Sector
Treatment Centres in Lincolnshire and Plymouth.
We have written to Partnership Health Group
Limited on four separate occasions since 25 November 2005 with
regards to one site in particular at Barlborough. In each of the
letters we outlined our serious concerns and our commitment to
working with them to find a suitable resolution. The issues raised
have been both clinical and employment related and includes the
following:
— Lack of basic training and development.
— Poor clinical governance policies.
— Concerns over patient safety and
standards of care.
— Management's use of stopwatches during
pre-op assessments.
— Bullying and intimidation.
— Working Time Regulations.
— Neglect of partnership working.
We sought an immediate meeting to discuss these
concerns with PHG but despite repeated requests no meeting has
so far been arranged. Furthermore, a meeting between staff and
management was cancelled due to PHG management refusing to allow
a UNISON representative to participate. At all stages we have
been approached by staff who have sought our assistance in finding
a resolution to their concerns and at all times we would have
preferred to do this in partnership with PHG.
We have worked with the staff over a number
of weeks to re-assure them that their complaints are justified
and need to be investigated and that they have been right to raise
them with us. Nevertheless, a culture of fear seems to exist within
this organisation and this needs to be investigated thoroughly.
We do not believe that these incidents are isolated
to one site as the experiences of staff appear to be similar throughout
the organisation and its other sites.
During this time we have collated their information
and will be advising the Nursing & Midwifery Council and the
Healthcare Commission of our concerns.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with
you to discuss these issues, and still remain committed to working
with Partnership Health Group. We have sought to gain recognition
with them with no positive outcome and sadly are now considering
making an application under the Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation)
Act 1992.
I am sure you will agree that there is a need
for independent sector organisations that are commissioned to
perform work for the NHS, to mirror the good practices that are
currently available throughout the NHS. In fact we know that the
Department of Health recognises that this is an essential part
of the modernisation agenda. There are already a number of independent
sector organisations who we have good working relationships with.
This partnership working with trade unions and ensuring the provision
for union recognition is an important step towards facilitating
this process.
I look forward to hearing your views on this
serious matter.
13 February 2006
| 
